Part of my job as a volunteer firefighter is to respond to emergencies. Last year on January 12th an unexpected warm rain on top of record snowpack in the Southern Utah mountains caused the local tributaries to overflow there bounds. In all 20 homes were swept into the raging rivers and dozens more were condemned because of severe damage to the foundations. For many it was a tense 24 hours while we waited for the rising of the river to subside. The loss and sadness was overshadowed by an extraordinary show of charity and service as literally thousands jumped in to help their neighbors.

I was assigned to a specific neighborhood that was perched precariously against the normally tiny Santa Clara Creek. When I arrived on seen the order had been given to evacuate all the homes that bordered on the river. I recall many people rushing in to help move prized posessions and personal belongings from the threatened homes. The house pictured above was my assignment. In the rush to evacuate the home I was surprised to see a city council member and the chief of police carefully handing picture albums and the ladies doll collection out the window, trying to save anything we could. In a matter of minutes the swarm moved from house to house along the riverside until all the belongings were moved to safety. It was less than an hour later when this house finally was undercut and swept into the torrent. Words cannot describe the power and fury of mother nature as entire homes crumbled and fell into the muddy flow. There are certain things that can never be forgotten. This was one of those experiences for me.